Uganda - Same-Clan Marriages - Religion, Culture, Traditions

If same-clan couple Ivan Sserunkuuma and Juliet Namazzi were Muslims, sheikhs would have gone ahead to declare them man and woman a fortnight ago.

"We marry according to the teachings of the Koran. And we cannot stop a couple from marrying just because they are clan mates. It is not mentioned anywhere in the Koran," the leader of the Tabliq sect in Uganda, Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto, said.

He said the Koran forbids marriages of blood relationship like that of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and their descendants.

The director of Sharia (Muslim law) at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Sheikh Rajab Kakooza, said, "We can unite a same-clan couple. Sharia does not stop them. But parents of the couple must approve of the marriage".

Unfortunately for the couple and fortunate for the would-be bride's father, a High Court order secured by the bitter father blocked the couple from walking down the aisle at St Francis Chapel, Makerere University, a fortnight ago.

The old man, Mr Bruno Kiwuwa, of the Ndiga (sheep) clan, is by Ganda tradition also a father to Mr Sserunkuuma the groom.

The Born-Again couple have, however, snubbed the norm.

Namazzi, 29, had apparently dreamt that the lovebirds belong to Jesus' clan.

Her mother, Ms Nalongo Ndagire Binaisa, had endorsed the marriage but the father believes "such a situation is unacceptable and abominable in the Buganda traditional custom and is tantamount to marrying one's sister or brother."

Sheikh Kakooza said in Islam Kiwuwa would be advised to endorse the marriage but if he stuck to his guns, the sheikhs would not unite the couple.

"We must obey our parents," Kakooza said.

Determined: Namazzi at court yesterday. Photo by G. Kiggundu

Kiwuwa however would remain with a sin before of blocking a marriage in favour of cultural norms.

According to the Mengo minister for heritage, Mr Arthur Bagunywa, the kingdom discourages same clan marriages because it is against their cultural norms, and that it is an act of selfishness for Baganda to marry within their clan.

"Our culture resembles that of the Israelis and Scots," he said.

Buganda has 52 clans, but the Mamba (mud fish) clan members can marry each other so long as they are not of the same totem or same line of great grand parents.

Scientists too discourage related individuals from marrying. Avoiding such marriages helps prevent passing on hereditary diseases like sickle cells anaemia, blood pressure, diabetes, mental illness to your off springs.

The Constitution of Uganda requires that for two people to get married, they have to be above 18 years and to enter into the relationship with free consent.

The fate of Sserunkuuma and Namazzi's marriage is still a mystery as Christian leaders give contrasting views.

Pastor Godfrey Kamese of Praise Christian Centre in Kampala says Born-Again Christians mainly depend on introduction letters from parents to declare a couple man and wife.

"When we get the kwanjula letter, it means the parents have agreed and the couple can go ahead and be married," he said.

"In my culture (Ankole) we don't follow clans to get married, we mainly follow religion."

However, Rev. John Ssenyonyi of Uganda Christian University, Mukono says God doesn't allow clan mates to married because they are related.

"When you became a Christian and join God's family it doesn't take you away from your own clan. Even Jesus didn't denounce his own earthly lineage," Ssenyonyi said.

"The Bible prohibits us from marrying any people we are related to and clan mates are related. But once the families agree, we can marry them since some clans marry each other."

He advised individuals of the same clan to avoid marrying each other, saying it is against cultural norms, and the Bible does not discourage cultural norms.

"There are 52 clans in Buganda. Why can't someone look for a different person from the other 51 other than marrying from his own clan?" Ssenyonyi asked.

Some Baganda Daily Monitor talked asked the Kabaka to change some of the marriage customs to allow same-clan marriages.

Ms Juliet Nantongo said, "I belong to Nkima (monkey) clan but I have missed four men just because we are clan mates," she said.

While traditional and religious leaders, legal professionals and the public agree and disagree on Sserunkuuma and Namazzi's future, the couple is determined to pursue their conjugal rights to the last beat of their hearts.

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